Introduction to the visual arts: Opening windows to the contemporary world for persons with special needs
Speaker(s): Dr Esther Joosa
Free
About live session
Workshop Introduction to the Visual Arts: Opening Windows to the Contemporary World
Welcome to this special 90-minute workshop designed for families and organizations working in special education! Together, we’ll explore how contemporary visual arts can inspire creativity, communication, and connection. Through accessible and engaging activities, you’ll discover how art becomes a powerful tool for self-expression and learning, opening new windows to understanding and celebrating diverse perspectives. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, this workshop will provide practical insights and ideas to bring the world of art into your everyday practices. Let’s embark on this creative journey together!
What you'll learn
In this 90-minute workshop, participants will be introduced to:
1. Let's Learn About the Role of Visual Arts in Contemporary Special Education
- It starts with the arts: Learn how contemporary perspectives art fosters 21st century skills, in particular creativity, emotional expression, and cognitive development
2. Making Choices: Introducing the Many Diverse Mediums and Techniques to Engage with Art
- Discover practical, accessible ways to introduce visual arts, including adaptive tools and sensory-friendly methods tailored to special education settings.
3. Let's Do Art Talk: Recognise Art as a Contemporary Communication Tool
- Gain insights into how visual art helps individuals express thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to articulate through words.
4. Let's Connect Art to Everyday Learning
- Explore how to integrate art into daily routines, using it as a bridge for teaching concepts, building social skills, and enhancing overall learning experiences.
5. Let's Celebrate Inclusion Through Art
- Learn strategies to create inclusive art activities that empower everyone to participate, fostering a sense of belonging and shared creativity.
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for an in-depth on-line learning leave with practical ideas, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of how visual arts can open doors to self-expression, connection, and joy in the special education community.
Included lessons
FinishedSpeaker(s):
Dr Esther Joosa
Esther Joosa is the founder of Arts of the Earth Learning Hub. Originally from the Netherlands, she made Singapore her home 36 years ago. She holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University in visual arts and a Master’s and Bachelor’s in early childhood education from QUT Australia. In practice and research she is passionate to advance insights into the role of visual arts and creativity in young children, their families and educational organisations. She has worked across geographical borders, to bring arts, creativity and playful art practices to individuals with diverse abilities, and marginalised communities. Her experiences are well cited and translated into her vision and mission of Arts of the Earth: To contribute to a world that celebrates human diversity and in which the arts foster communication, encourage creativity and cultivate profound connections across cultures in the community within the family.